Friday, November 22, 2013

Panthers' Mike Mitchell tells Drew Brees to 'stop being soft'

Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell has found himself lighter in his wallet because he feels the league is targeting him. Based on what he had to say about New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Mitchell might find himself with a big bullseye on his back when the Saints and Panthers square off.

Mitchell went on Fox Sports L.A.’s FnA podcast and explained why he thought Brees was soft and accused Brees of flopping after being hit by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.“The thing that I hated about the play, the whole thing, and this is what these offensive guys are doing, they’re kind of running with it,” Mitchell said. “Drew Brees is throwing a fit in the post-game interview saying how he got hit in the chin and he was dazed, and all this other stuff. And it’s like, dude, the replay clearly shows he did not even touch you in the chin.“Stop being soft, get up off the ground,” Mitchell said. “You fumbled the football, that’s why the only reason you were acting like you were hurt, is so you could draw a flag.”

How are you gonna tell another player how he feels after being hit? Was the hit clean? In my opinion yes it was, by the rules no,but Brees did get his bell rang on the play. Did you see how his neck snapped? Someone is gonna feel a some pain after a hit like that. So I don't see how Mitchell accuse Brees of flopping.

Mitchell had more to say.

“He did not get hit in the chin. He got hit hard, which he should have got hit hard because we are playing full speed tackle football. And he fumbled the football. And I think that’s really was the reason he was down so long. He was really trying to sell that and trying to get a flag. And obviously it worked, and their team was able to steal a win because of that play.”

The Panthers are chasing the Saints in the NFC South. The teams will face off twice in the next four weeks. Mitchell’s comments make an already interesting pair of games between the Panthers and Saints even more compelling.